CNN —Two flintlock Gossard pistols once owned by French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte have sold at auction for €1.69 million ($1.83 million). They were originally valued at an estimated €1.2 million-€1.5 million ($1.3 million- $1.63 million). According to the auctioneer, they were given to Napoleon’s friend and squire Armand de Caulaincourt just after the emperor attempted suicide in April 1814. The emperor “had frequently examined his pistols, removing bullets from his nécessaire” during this time, Osenat reports Caulaincourt as saying. Last November, Osenat sold one of Napoleon’s famous black hats for a record €1.932 million ($2.1 million).

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Persons: French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, Armand de Caulaincourt, Michel Bury, Osenat, Napoleon, Caulaincourt, “ Napoleon, “, Jean, Pierre Osenat, ” Organizations: CNN, Sunday Locations: French, Fontainebleau, Paris, Russia, Elba, Burr, France